Type 2 diabetes

Personalized tests to detect metabolites (small molecules) and gene variants associated with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterized by elevated blood sugar, insulin resistance and relatively insufficient insulin secretion. It constitutes the majority of people with diabetes and develops mainly in adults (for more information www.fgacenter.gr/τα-αντιοξειδωτικά-και-οι-φυτοχημικές-3/).

Who does it concern?

Type 2 diabetes is a disease that adversely affects the function of almost every organ in the human body in the long term. Thus, the biggest problem for diabetic patients is the long-term complications that accompany the disease. The most common of these are: macroangiopathy, diabetic retinopathy, diabetic nephropathy, diabetic neuropathy, diabetic foot and susceptibility to infections, myopathy, osteoporosis, joint diseases and liver damage are additional conditions often associated with diabetes mellitus.

The Invisible Enemies of Health: What Leads to the Long-Term Complications of Diabetes Mellitus?

1. Genes – Epigenetics: An example among others are gene mutations of insulin receptors. Some insulin receptor gene mutations can lead to abnormalities in insulin action. These insulin-related mutations can cause a variety of metabolic abnormalities, ranging from elevated insulin levels and mildly high blood sugar levels to severe diabetes. For more information, visit our epigenome here.
2. Unhealthy Lifestyle: Bad eating habits such as refined carbohydrates, consumption of sweets and saturated fats, processed and ultra-processed foods and fast food as well as lack of exercise and other unhealthy lifestyle choices are key factors to avoid. Find out more about the effect of sleep on health on our page ( fgacenter.gr/mógita-na-apreventi-i-émpresione-tou-di/ ).
3. Environmental Endocrine Disruptors-toxins: Long-term exposure to environmental toxins (toxins classified as diabetogenic: BPA, arsenic and other heavy metals, phthalates, perfluorinated salts (PFOS), diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) and dioxin (TCDD) per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), arsenic) may contribute to the development of diabetes mellitus through a complex interplay of mechanisms involving oxidative stress, β-cell dysfunction, insulin resistance, inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction. These factors collectively disrupt glucose homeostasis and contribute to the development and worsening of diabetes. It is important to understand and mitigate the impact of environmental toxins on metabolic health to reduce the risk of diabetes-related complications. For more information, see our page on dangerous levels of toxic chemicals .
4. The gut microbiota: Recent studies have also shown a connection between the body’s energy balance and the immune system and the bacteria in the gut. Transplantation of gut bacteria from healthy donors into insulin-resistant individuals has been found to have beneficial metabolic effects. The appearance of obesity and diabetes is believed to be linked to low-grade inflammation produced by a metabolic change in the body caused by an interaction between the immune system and products from the gut microbiome (for more information ( fgacenter.gr/o- role-of-the-gut-microbiome/ ).
5. Oxidative stress from increased production of oxidizing oxygen radicals (ROS) and dysfunction of antioxidant systems: Oxidative stress can be associated with insulin resistance, as it triggers the activation of monocytes and macrophages, leading to inflammatory responses responsible for insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus. Oxidative stress plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of many problems of diabetes by altering lipid peroxidation and causing mitochondrial dysfunction and DNA damage. Therefore, maintaining a normal state of redox biology is crucial to prevent the difficulties caused by oxidative stress as well as insulin resistance and the long-term complications of diabetes.
6. Management of inflammatory processes: Recently, increasing evidence has highlighted the importance of low-grade inflammation in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. People who eventually develop type 2 diabetes often show evidence of inflammation even before the onset of the disease. Research studies have established a strong link between inflammatory markers and abnormalities in lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, as well as associations with atherosclerosis and obesity. The interplay between inflammation and insulin signaling pathways further contributes to insulin resistance and endothelial dysfunction, thereby increasing susceptibility to cardiovascular disorders.
7. Energy Uptake and Expenditure: Mitochondria are double-membrane organelles responsible for energy production, calcium storage, fatty acid and heat generation, and cell survival. They are also involved in cellular signaling networks. Insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus (DM) have been found to have a pathogenesis involving mitochondrial dysfunction. Most cases of mitochondrial dysfunction result from oxidative stress, which disrupts the function of mitochondria (for more information https://www.fgacenter.gr/metavoliko-syndromo/ ).